Curriculum Highlights
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Math
There have seen many changes in what is expected of our students in mathematics. In order to meet these expectations, students will be using Everyday Math as their primary curriculum. This curriculum is quite different in its delivery from what many of us remember growing up, but let me assure you that the content is the same. Students will be asked to explain and define their answers and the process they used to solve the problem. This will be frustrating for them at first. This is different than what we are used to, but it is necessary for them to succeed. Part of my job is to teach them how to be problem solves, not just be solve problems.
Literacy - Reading is thinking!
There have seen many changes in what is expected of our students in mathematics. In order to meet these expectations, students will be using Everyday Math as their primary curriculum. This curriculum is quite different in its delivery from what many of us remember growing up, but let me assure you that the content is the same. Students will be asked to explain and define their answers and the process they used to solve the problem. This will be frustrating for them at first. This is different than what we are used to, but it is necessary for them to succeed. Part of my job is to teach them how to be problem solves, not just be solve problems.
- Everyday Math is set up in a Spiral Curriculum format, meaning students will be learning math concepts and will revisit them throughout the year. It's a fairly fast-paced model in which each unit has an overall mathematical theme, but each lesson focuses on a specific concept that may not have a direct connection to the previous lesson. So while it may seem students are not given the typical amount of time to focus on a concept, the spiral format allows students to revisit these concepts multiple times through games, review problems and direct instruction.
Literacy - Reading is thinking!
- Traditionally, student would read from a book and answer the basic questions about characters and plot. Now, students will learn how to become a "close reader." It's a practice that revisists text numerous times in order to analyze it in a more complex way. It might seem tedious and repetitive, but it teaches them to learn to interpret author's tone and word choice, make connections between texts and the world around them, look for important facts and main idea and ask questions about what they are reading. Students will take more ownership in the reading as they generate their own ideas and questions while reading complex texts.
- Writing focuses on teaching students how to commnicate their ideas effectively through persuasive arguments and informational writing, drawing from evidence found in texts and other sources.